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Ayaka Umeda

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Ayaka Umeda
Born (1989-01-03) January 3, 1989 (age 35)
Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
GenresJ-pop, pop music
Occupation(s)Japanese idol, singer
InstrumentVocals
Years active2006, 2008–present
Websiteoffice48.jp/pages/talent/umeda_ayaka/index

Ayaka Umeda (梅田 彩佳, Umeda Ayaka, born January 3, 1989) is a former Japanese idol and singer from the girl group NMB48, in which she is the co-captain of Team BII. She was also a member of the AKB48 and its subunit DiVA.

Biography

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2004–2007: Early career, debut, injury

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In 2004–2005, Umeda took part in the Morning Musume Lucky 7 Audition for the idol group Morning Musume, but only advanced to the second round.

On February 26, 2006, Umeda passed the second generation auditions for AKB48, and became one of 19 founding members for the group's Team K. Her on-stage debut was on April 1. She performed on the title track for AKB48's first single on a major label, "Aitakatta", released on October 26, 2006. As part of Team K 1st Stage, she was a front member for the song "Skirt, Hirari", along with Sayaka Akimoto, Yuko Oshima, Sae Miyazawa, and Kana Kobayashi.

Later in the year, Umeda developed a stress fracture in her foot, and was recommended by her manager to take a break from her performances to rehabilitate, starting December 23. Her rehabilitation took about a year, during which she was active on TV in Fukuoka Prefecture.

2008–2011: Return to AKB48

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On May 31, 2008, Umeda returned to public performances with the premiere of a new seasonal Team K's show at the AKB48 Theater, titled Team K 4th Stage "Saishū Bell ga Naru". Prior to her injuries, she was one of the faces of Team K, but after her return, she was placed at the very end of the stage, extremely far from the center position where she used to stand.[citation needed]

In February 2009, Umeda was chosen as the D1 Grand Prix image girl.[1]

In April, she was named the Tokyo Tower image girl for the year 2009, succeeding fellow AKB48 member Ayumi Orii.[2]

In the AKB48 general election for 2010, Umeda placed 32nd, with 2,499 votes.[3][4]

2011: Diva, rise in AKB48

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On February 27, 2011, it was announced to the public that a new pop group named DiVA, consisting of Sayaka Akimoto, Yuka Masuda, Sae Miyazawa, and Ayaka Umeda had been formed.[5] The group's debut single "Tsuki no Uragawa", whose release was originally scheduled for April 27, and postponed until May 18[6] due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, reached number 3 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

In the annual election, she placed 22nd, and headlined the Under Girls on the single's coupling track.[7][8] In the AKB48 rock-paper-scissors tournament, which took place on September 20, she finished in the top 16, which earned her a spot on the title track. The song "Ue kara Mariko" became her first A-side of an AKB48's single in three and a half years, since "Baby! Baby! Baby!".

2012: Team B captain

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On June 6, in the AKB48 general election, she placed 16th and landed a spot on the title track for "Gingham Check".[9][10]

On August 24, AKB48 announced a major reorganization, where Umeda moved to Team B and became the team's captain.[11]

In the third AKB48 rock-paper-scissors tournament, which took place in September 2012, Umeda advanced to the top 16, and secured a title track spot on the group's 29th single, "Eien Pressure".

2013: Senbatsu Election

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Umeda ranked 19th in AKB48's general election, placing her in Undergirls and subsequently giving her a spot on the main B-side track of the election single, Koi Suru Fortune Cookie.

2014: Transfer to NMB48

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On February 24, 2014, in the AKB48 Dai Sokaku Matsuri Shuffle, Umeda was completely transferred to NMB48 and became co-captain of Team BII.

2016: Departing NMB48

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On January 23, 2016, at AKB48 Request Hour Setlist Best 100 2016, Umeda announced of leaving NMB48. On March 20, she graduated from the group and her graduation ceremony was hold on March 31, 2016, at Zepp Namba.

Singles with AKB48

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Year No. Title Role[12] Notes
2006 1 "Aitakatta" A-side Debut with Team K.
2007 5 "Boku no Taiyō" B-side Did not sing on title track. Sang on "Mirai no Kajitsu".
2008 9 "Baby! Baby! Baby!" A-side
2009 14 "River" Theater Girls Did not sing on title track. Sang on "Hikōkigumo"
2010 16 "Ponytail to Shushu" B-side Did not sing on title track. Sang on "Boku no Yell"
2010 17 "Heavy Rotation" B-side Ranked 32nd in 2010 General Election. Did not sing on title track. Sang on "Namida no Sea-Saw Game"
2010 18 "Beginner" Diva Did not sing on title track. Sang on "Nakeru Basho" as Diva (not to be confused with Diva
2010 19 "Chance no Junban" B-side Did not sing on title track; lineup was determined by rock-paper-scissors tournament.[13] Sang on "Alive" as Team K.
2011 20 "Sakura no Ki ni Narō" B-side Did not sing on title track. Sang on "Area K" as Diva.
2011 "Dareka no Tame ni – What can I do for someone?" charity single
2011 21 "Everyday, Katyusha" Under Girls Did not sing on title track. Sang on "Hito to Chikara" as Under Girls.
2011 22 "Flying Get" Under Girls Ranked 22nd in 2011 General Election. Did not sing on title track. Sang on "Dakishimecha Ikenai".
2011 23 "Kaze wa Fuiteiru" Under Girls Yurigumi Did not sing on title track. Sang on "Gondola Lift" as Under Girls Yurigumi
2011 24 "Ue kara Mariko" A-side Placed in top 16 in rock-paper-scissors tournament;[14][15] She sang on "Zero-sum Taiyo" with Team K.
2012 25 "Give Me Five!" Special Girls B Did not sing on title track. Sang "Hitsujikai no Tabi" with Special Girls B.
2012 26 "Manatsu no Sounds Good!" Special Girls Did not sing on title track. Sang on "Mitsu no Namida" as Special Girls.
2012 27 "Gingham Check" A-side Ranked 16th in 2012 General Election.[9][10]
2012 28 "Uza" B-side Did not sing on title track. Sang on "Seigi no Mikata ja Nai Hero". Moved to Team B.
2012 29 "Eien Pressure" A-side Placed 15th in rock-paper-scissors tournament. Sang on "Totteoki Christmas".
2013 30 "So Long!" B-side Did not sing on title track. Sang on "Sokode inu no unchi fun jau ka ne?" with Team B.
2013 31 "Sayonara Crawl" B-side Did not sing on title track. Sang on "Romance Kenjuu" with Team B.
2013 32 "Koi Suru Fortune Cookie" Under Girls Ranked 19th in 2013 General Election. Did not sing on title track.[16] Sang on "Ai no Imi wo Kangaete Mita".
2013 33 "Heart Electric" Under Girls Sang on :Kaisoku to Doutai Shiryoku"
2013 34 "Suzukake no Ki no Michi de "Kimi no Hohoemi o Yume ni Miru" to Itte Shimattara Bokutachi no Kankei wa Dō Kawatte Shimau no ka, Bokunari ni Nan-nichi ka Kangaeta Ue de no Yaya Kihazukashii Ketsuron no Yō na Mono" B-side Did not sing on title track; lineup was determined by rock-paper-scissors tournament.[17] Sang on "Mosh & Dive".[18]
2014 37 "Kokoro no Placard" Next Girls Ranked 35th in 2014 General Election. Did not sing on main track. Sang "Hito Natsu no Hankouki" instead.
2014 38 "Kibōteki Refrain" B-Side Sang "Utaitai".
2015 39 "Green Flash" B-side Sang "Punkish"

Singles with NMB48

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Year No. Title Role Notes
2014 10 "Rashikunai" A-Side
2015 11 "Don't Look Back!" A-Side Also sang "Romantic Snow"
2015 12 "Durian Shōnen" A-Side
2015 13 "Must Be Now" A-Side Last single to participate as NMB48 member.

Singles with SKE48

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Year No. Title Role Notes
2016 19 "Chicken Line" B-side Sang on "Tabi no Tochū". Participated as graduated member.

AKB48 stage units

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Team K 1st Stage "Party ga Hajimaru yo"
  • "Skirt, Hirari"
Team K 2nd Stage "Seishun Girls"
  • "Ame no Dōbutsuen"
  • "Fushidara na Natsu"
Team K 3rd Stage "Nōnai Paradise"
  • "Maria"
Team K 4th Stage "Saishu Bell ga Naru"
  • "Return Match"
Team K 5th Stage "Sakaagari"
  • "End Roll"
Team K 6th Stage "Reset"
  • "Kokoro no Sofa"
  • "Kiseki wa Maniawanai"

Filmography

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TV series

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Musicals

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  • In the Heights (as Nina Rosario) (2014)
  • The Wiz (as Dorothy Gale) (2015)
  • Endless SHOCK (as Rika) (2019-2021)
  • EDGES the musical (Red Team) (2020)
  • Galaxy Express 999 THE MUSICAL (as Claire) (2022)
  • Sister Act (as Sister Mary Robert) (2023)
  • Tick, Tick... Boom! (as Susan) (2024)

References

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  1. ^ "D1 GRAND PRIX Official Website" (in Japanese). D! Grand Prix Series official site. Archived from the original on January 6, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  2. ^ "AKB48's Umeda named Tokyo Tower image girl". Japan Today. April 5, 2009. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  3. ^ "「AKB48総選挙」で大波乱 大島優子が初戴冠で前田のV2阻止!ニュース-ダイエット・エステ・美容のオリコンランキング" (in Japanese). Oricon. June 9, 2010. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  4. ^ "AKB48、女性グループ史上初の2作連続初週売上50万枚超え ニュース-ORICON STYLE" (in Japanese). Oricon. August 24, 2010. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  5. ^ "AKB48's Akimoto Sayaka returns to Team K captain position, forms new unit DiVA". Tokyograph. February 28, 2011. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  6. ^ 発売日変更のお知らせ (in Japanese). Diva official website (avex marketing Inc.). April 1, 2011. Archived from the original on April 12, 2011. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  7. ^ "AKB48第3回総選挙、前田敦子がトップに返り咲き果たす" (in Japanese). Natalie. June 9, 2011. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  8. ^ "前田敦子が雪辱果たし第1位、「AKBのこと嫌いにならないで」" (in Japanese). Eiga.com. June 9, 2011. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  9. ^ a b "AKB48第4回総選挙、大島優子が2年ぶり2回目のトップに" (in Japanese). Natalie. June 6, 2012. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  10. ^ a b "AKB48第4回総選挙、トップ16メンバーのコメント全紹介" (in Japanese). Natalie. June 7, 2012. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  11. ^ 組閣後新体制 (in Japanese). AKB48 official site. August 24, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
  12. ^ Center and A-side lineup information provided by "AKB48 歴代シングル選抜メンバー(2006年~2013年)" [(2006–2013) AKB48 successive single member selection]. entamedata.web.fc2.com. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  13. ^ "AKB48、じゃんけん選抜シングルは「チャンスの順番」". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. November 4, 2010. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  14. ^ "AKB48 :AKB48 :じゃんけん大会を再び開催 9月に武道館で SKE48、NMB48ら総勢71人参加". Mainichi Shimbun Digital Co., Ltd. (in Japanese). MANTANWEB. July 3, 2011. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  15. ^ "AKB48's second "Rock, Paper, Scissors" Tournament confirmed". Tokyohive.com. July 3, 2011. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  16. ^ "AKB48 32ndシングル 選抜総選挙" [32nd single selection elections]. AKB48 Official Site (in Japanese). June 8, 2013.
  17. ^ Suskin, Jeremy (September 18, 2013). "Jurina Matsui Wins Jankenpyon Tournament to Lead AKB48's 34th Single". Nihongogo.
  18. ^ "鈴懸(すずかけ)の木の道で「君の微笑みを夢に見る」と言ってしまったら僕たちの関係はどう変わってしまうのか、僕なりに何日か考えた上でのやや気恥ずかしい結論のようなもの <Type A>【通常盤】(マキシ+DVD複合)" (in Japanese). King Records. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
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